d Richard
how the cushion could be inflated in a few seconds with an air-pump; and
how, being inflated, an automatic valve closed and kept the air
prisoner. "A tidy arrangement, take my word, and does that Russian party
credit!"

"What will he do with it?" asked Richard.

"Put the question later," responded Inspector Val, who was a slave to
the dramatic and never turned loose his climaxes prematurely.

The San Reve was of a nature too easily the prey of somber suspicions to
ever find perfect happiness. Besides she had been saddened, if not
soured, by the rougher, harder visitations of life. As nearly as she
might be, however, these days the San Reve was happy. And peace came to
her more and more as spring deepened into May. Storri was every day to
see her; and the most patient investigation only served to make it sure
that he had ended his relations with the Harleys. Storri went no more to
the Harley house, and if there had existed a least of chance that he
would wed Miss Harley, the peril was passed by. The San Reve began to
doubt if such a plan had ever been in Storri's mind; she was inclined to
think herself a jealous fool for entertaining the belief. She had
wronged her Storri; it was as he told her from the first; his relations,
those of business, had been solely with Mr. Harley. At this view, so
flattering to the loyal truth of Storri, the San Reve's bosom welled
with a great love for that nobleman. The gray-green eyes became quietly
serene; the strong beauty of her face gathered effulgence in the
sunshine of love's confidence renewed.

It was an evening in the early days of May. Storri was saying that he
had been commanded, through the Russian Embassy, to report to "His
Czar"; he must be in St. Petersburg June fifteenth. The San Reve had
begun to believe in the Czar as a close intimate of her Storri.

"Yes, he has called me home, my San Reve," cried Storri. "There is much
that he would know about these pig Americans, and who can tell him
better than his Storri. When I go, which will be about June first, you
shall go with me."

The San Reve's heavy face was in a glow. Russia? yes; and she would see
France again! Storri read the pleasure in her glance. Observing that it
made the San Reve more beautiful, he was taken of a natural wish to add
to it.

"Yes, you shall accompany me; I would not, no not even for my Czar, be
separated from you, my San Reve."

Storri was as fond of fiction as Mr. Harley, and of a